Directional applicator for handheld dispensers



Sept. 13, 1966 H. G. LEHMANN 3,272,406

DIRECTIONAL APPLICATOR FOR HAND-HELD DISPENSERS Filed Oct. 26, 1964 F 9.2 Fig 4 2o ccjl iiliil Z/ZO l zz 1 1043 Fwy 11y l0 57. i 1 4o 4a 24 :J 46 120 h 42 m. y Fay? I I wan. 'ZQCL i 6 Ill 4.,

1 N VEN TOR.

Herbert G. Lehmanngfy mJL United States Patent 3,272,406 DIRECTIONAL APPLICATOR FOR HAND- HELD DISPENSERS Herbert G. Lehmann, Easton, Conn, assignor to Valve Corporation of America, Bridgeport, Comm, :1 corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 406,968 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-531) This invention relates to small dispensers for liquids, and more particularly to directional applicator caps for the same.

The invention concerns improvements in the directional applicator cap of US. Patent No. 3,148,806 issued to Philip Meshberg and in the directional cap of copending patent application Serial No. 315,070' filed October 9, 1963, now Patent No. 3,221,950, in the name of William R. ODonnell, which application is owned by the same assignee as the present invention and application.

These prior applicator caps involve an L-shaped directable spout member which is pivotally mounted in a depressible cap part. The cap includes a discharge passage which communicates with the hollow depressible valve stem of the dispenser, and the L-shaped spout is at all times in communication with the discharge passage of the cap, regardless of its rotative or pivotal position. Thus, slight residual liquid which collects in the discharge passage of the cap can ultimately work its way out through the spout member after each use, and this is especially true if the valve of the dispenser has a tendency to leak. These prior devices also are arranged with external means by which depressing movement of the cap is prevented when the spout is in the folded, inoperative position, but such means has no remedial effect upon a slightly leaking valve. The prior devices are also so constituted that the spout can work itself loose from the cap by sliding out of the bearing provided therein.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided, responsive to the rotative or pivotal position of the spout member, an additional valve means which closes the discharge passage when the spout member is in the folded, inoperative position. Further, detent means are provided to retain the pivotal spout member in its properly seated position on the cap at all times, preventing inadvertent looseness, leakage or removal of the spout. The additional valve means is provided not only for a construction wherein the stern of the spout is fitted into the cap, but also for a construction wherein the cap has a hub which is fitted into the spout, and this is also true of the detent means.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved actuator cap having a directable nozzle piece and an auxiliary shut-off device or valve which operates in response to movement of the nozzle, wherein the construction is especially simple and economical to produce as well as being effective and particularly leakproof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved actuator cap as above set forth, wherein simplified detent means are provided to maintain the additional shutoff or valve device in operative condition at all times, and to normally retain the spout member in the proper operative relationship with respect to the cap.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved directional actuator cap in accordance with the foregoing, wherein the bearing portion of the nozzle may be inserted in the cap, or else wherein a bearing portion of the cap may be inserted in the nozzle, whichever construction may be found most desirable and advantageous.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters of reference are used to designate like components throughout the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a pressurized aerosol dispenser and directional applicator cap as provided by the invention, the directional spout =being shown in the folded, inoperative position.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the dispenser and actuator cap.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the dispenser and cap, showing the directional spout swung to one side, to an operative discharge position.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the pressurized container and actuator cap, with the pivotal nozzle removed to reveal details of construction.

FIG. 5 is an inside elevational view of the pivotal nozzle member, revealing the cooperable valve portion or surface thereof.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the pivotal nozzle of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in axial section, of the actuator cap revealing interior details.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a dispenser and directional applicator, this being similar to the view of FIG. 1 but showing another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the actuator cap of FIG. 8 with the nozzle member removed, and

FIG. 10 is an inside elevational view of the nozzle member, revealing the valving arrangement.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-6, there is illustrated a pressurized container 10 of the type having an upstanding depressible hollow valve stem (not shown) through which the discharge of the aerosol substance takes place. Mounted on the valve stem of the container 10 is an actuator cap 12 of generally cylindrical configuration, having a vertical bore 14 arranged to communicate with the bore of the valve stem to receive the aerosol substance therefrom.

The actuator cap 12, in being carried by the valve stem, may be shifted downward to a depressed position wherein the depressing of the valve stem will effect a discharge of the aerosol substance, the latter passing upward through the passage 14 of the cap. As seen clearly in FIG. 4, the cap 12 has a horizontal cylindrical bore 16 adapted to frictionally receive a short cylindrical leg portion 18 of an L-shaped nozzle member 20, said member having a long leg portion 22 from which the discharge of the aerosol substance takes place. When the short leg portion 18 of the nozzle 20 is in its operative position in the bore 16 of the cap 12, the nozzle may be swung through a complete circular are as permitted by the cylindrical bearing surfaces. The nozzle 20 has discharge passages 24 and 26 communicating with each other, the passage 26 being in the short leg portion 18 as shown.

In accordance with the invention, cooperable valve elements are provided on the cap 12 and short leg portion 18 of the nozzle 20, whereby communication is prevented between the discharge passages 24, 26 of the nozzle and the discharge passage 14 of the cap 12 when the nozzle is in the downward folded position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In effecting such valving, the cap 12 is provided with a horizontal discharge passage 28 which is eccentrically disposed with respect to the bearing bore 16. Also, the horizontal discharge passage 26 of the nozzle 20 is eccentrically disposed with respect to the bore 16 and external cylindrical bearing surface of the short leg portion 18.

The arrangement is such that the passages 26 and 28 are out of registration for the nozzle position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but become registered as the nozzle is swung upward to either of the two horizontal positions indicated in FIG. 3 or when it occupies any higher position than the said horizontal positions.

- In conjunction with the eccentric discharge passages 26, 28 there are engageable surfaces 30, 32 respectively of the cap 12 and short leg portion 18, such surfaces being located at the adjoining ends of the passages 26, 28. When the surfaces 30, 32 are kept in engagement with each other, an effective valve action is had as above explained, wherein the passages of the nozzle 26 are held out of communication with the passage 28 of the cap 12 when the nozzle is in the downward-folded or swung position.

For the purpose of maintaining such engagement, the bore 16 of the cap is provided with an annular groove 34, and the-extremity of the short leg portion 18 of the nozzle has a cooperable annular bead 36 adapted to be received in the groove 34.

The cap 12 and nozzle 20 are preferably molded of a resilient plastic substance, and the resiliency of the substance enables the short leg portion 18 to be forced into the horizontal bore 16 until the annular bead 36 occupies the annular groove 34. During such assemblage of the parts a slight distortion will occur, and the magnitude of the bead 36 is made relatively slight, to enable a satisfactory assemblage of the parts to be effected.

To facilitate the molding of the parts, the short leg portion 18 of the nozzle may be provided with a dummy or blind hole 38.

The detent means 34, 36 not only maintains the effectiveness of the valve arrangement but also retains the nozzle 20 in its captive position at all times, regardless of the pivoting movement when the device is placed in use.

It will be appreciated that in spite of the provision of the valve means and detent arrangement the parts still retain an advantageous simplicity, whereby they may be economically produced in simple mold cavities, and this is an important feature of the invention. The provision of the cylindrical bearing surfaces in conjunction with the detent bead 36 and groove 34 also enhance the seal at the joints between the nozzle 20 and cap 12, preventing leakage at this point.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 810, wherein the short leg portion of the nozzle is made of larger diameter, receiving a hub of the cap as distinguished from the construction of FIGS. 1-7, wherein the short leg portion of the nozzle is received in a bore of the cap.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, the cap 12a has a hub 40 which extends horizontally in a deep right-angled side notch 42.

The nozzle member 20a has a short leg portion 18a of enlarged diameter, provided with a cylindrical internal bearing surface 44. The short leg portion 18a slidably receives the hub 40 of the cap 12a so as to constitute a bearing about which the long leg may be swung in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3. The hub 40 has a discharge passage 46 and also a dummy or blind hole 48 to facilitate the molding procedure. The discharge passage 46 is eccentrically disposed with respect to the internal surface 44 and exterior cylindrical surface of the hub 40, and the nozzle 20a has in its short leg portion 18a an eccentrically disposed discharge passage 50. When the passages 46 and 50 are in alignment or communication with each other, as when the nozzle 20a is swung away from the storage position shown in FIGS. 8, a discharge of the aerosol substance may be effected by depressing the cap 12a in the usual manner. The hub 40 has a detent head 52 which is received in a cooperable annular groove of the short leg portion 18a, to maintain engagement between the valving surfaces at the adjoining ends of the discharge passages 46, 50 as with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7. The embodiment of FIGS. 810 has the advantages explained above in connection with the firstdescribed embodiment of the invention.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A dispensing device constituting a directional actuator for use with small hand-held dispensers of the type having a container provided with an upstanding hollow depressible valve stem through which the substance to be dispensed passes, said actuator comprising in combination:

(a) a cap having means engageable with said valve stem to mount the cap thereon whereby depressing movement of the cap depresses the stem,

(b) said cap having a hollow portion providing a discharge passage and having on said portion a cylindrical bearing surface disposed so that its axis extends at a right angle to the axis of the valve stem, said bearing surface encircling the discharge passage,

(c) an L-shaped spout having short and long hollow leg portions and discharge passages therein, cornmunicating with each other,

(d) said short leg portion of the spout telescopically fitting the hollow portion of the cap and having a cylindrical bearing surface sealingly engaging the cylindrical bearing surface of the cap whereby the spout is mounted on the cap for pivotal movement of the long leg portion in a circular path which is spaced from and parallel to the axis of the valve stem, thereby to enable the long leg portion to be disposed either alongside the container or else in positions extending away from the container, and

(e) cooperable valve means on the cap and short leg portion of the spout, shutting off communication between said discharge passages of the cap and the spout when the long leg portion is substantially alongside the said container and connecting said passages for substantially all other positions of the long leg portion,

(f) said valve means comprising fiat abutting surfaces of the hollow cap portion and end of the short leg, extending around the discharge passages thereof and disposed in a plane which is transverse to the axes of said discharge passages of the cap and short leg portion, and parallel to the said circular path of travel of the long leg portion, and further so that they are spaced from and parallel to the axis of the valve stem when the cap is carried by the latter.

2. A dispensing device as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) cooperable rotary detent means are provided on the cap and short leg portion, holding said flat abutting surfaces in abutting relation.

3. A dispensing device as in claim 2, wherein:

(a) said detent means comprises an annular groove in the cap and a cooperable annular bead received in the groove and carried by the short leg portion.

4. A dispensing device as in claim 2, wherein:

(a) said detent means comprises an annular groove in the short leg portion and a cooperable annular bead received in the groove and carried by the cap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,116,856 1/1964 Prussin et. a1 222536 X 3,148,806 9/1964 Meshberg 222394 3,221,950 12/1965 O'Donnell 222-536 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

N. STACK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSING DEVICE CONSTITUTING A DIRECTIONAL ACTUATOR FOR USE WITH SMALL HAND-HELD DISPENSERS OF THE TYPE HAVING A CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH AN UPSTANDING HOLLOW DEPRESSIBLE VALVE STEM THROUGH WHICH THE SUBSTANCE TO BE DISPENSED PASSES, SAID ACTUATOR COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A CAP HAVING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID VALVE STEM TO MOUNT THE CAP THEREON WHEREBY DEPRESSING MOVEMENT OF THE CAP DEPRESSES THE STEM, (B) SAID CAP HAVING A HOLLOW PORITON PROVIDING A DISCHARGE PASSAGE AND HAVING ON SAID PORTION A CYLINDRICAL BEARING SURFACE DISPOSED SO THAT ITS AXIS EXTENDS AT A RIGHT ANGLE TO THE AXIS OF THE VALVE STEM, SAID BEARING SURFACE ENCIRCLING THE DISCHARGE PASSAGE, (C) AN L-SHAPED SPOUT HAVING SHORT AND LONG HOLLOW LEG PORTIONS AND DISCHARGE PASSAGES THEREIN, COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER, (D) SAID SHORT LEG PORTION OF THE SPOUT TELESCOPICALLY FITTING THE HOLLOW PORTION OF THE CAP AND HAVING A CYLINDRICAL BEARING SURFACE SEALINGLY ENGAGING THE CYLINDRICAL BEARING SURFACE OF THE CAP WHEREBY THE SPOUT IS MOUNTED ON THE CAP FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE LONG LEG PORTION IN A CIRCULAR PATH WHICH IS SPACED FROM AND PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE VALVE STEM, THEREBY TO ENABLE THE LONG LEG PORTION TO BE DISPOSED EITHER ALONGSIDE THE CONTAINER OR ELSE IN POSITIONS EXTENDING AWAY FROM THE CONTAINER, AND (E) COOPERABLE VALVE MEANS ON THE CAP AND SHORT LEG PORION OF THE SPOUT, SHUTING OFF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID DISCHARGE PASSAGES OF THE CAP AND THE SPOUT WHEN THE LONG LEG PORTION IS SUBSTANTIALLY ALONGSIDE THE SAID CONTAINER AND CONNECTING SAID PASSAGES FOR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OTHER POSITIONS OF THE LONG LEG PORTION, (F) SAID VALVE MEANS COMPRISING FLAT ABUTTING SURFACES OF THE HOLLOW CAP PORTION AND END OF THE SHORT LEG, EXTENDING AROUND THE DISCHARGE PASSAGES THEREOF AND DISPOSED IN A PLANE WHICH IS TRANSVERSE TO THE AXES OF SAID DISCHARGE PASSAGES OF THE CAP AND SHORT LEG PORTION, AND PARALLEL TO THE SAID CIRCULAR PATH OF THE TRAVEL OF THE LONG LEG PORTION, AND FURTHER SO THAT THEY ARE SPACED FROM AND PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE VALVE STEM WHEN THE CAP IS CARRIED BY THE LATTER. 